Politicians condemn 'horrifying' murder of pregnant bride stoned to death in Pakistan

Leading British political figures today united to condemn the horrific murder of a pregnant woman stoned to death in Pakistan for marrying the man she loved.

Shocking images seen around the world show the body of Farzana Iqbal after the savage attack by a mob which included members of her own family.

The 25-year-old’s killing outside a Lahore courthouse was branded “abhorrent” by International Development Secretary Justine Greening.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was “truly horrifying” that a woman could be so savagely assaulted simply for behaving as she wished.

Farzana, three months pregnant, was targeted for falling in love and marrying a man against her family’s wishes.

She was shot at and then surrounded by a mob of 30 people including her brother and father and beaten with bricks.

Her husband claimed police, lawyers and others stood by and watched as his wife was killed. It was reported today that father said he had “no regret”.

As concerns were raised that the murderers would go unpunished, Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi said the perpetrators of the attack had to be brought to justice.

Amnesty International accused Pakistan’s authorities of failing to protect Farzana and slammed the country’s justice system as “absurd”.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, visiting Pakistan, called the incident a “revolting lynching”.

Ms Greening told the Standard: “The murder of a pregnant woman for marrying the man she loved is abhorrent and a brutal reminder of the immense challenges faced by women and girls across the world.

“The violence and suffering inflicted routinely on women are precisely why this Government is working so hard to defeat the likes of early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.”

Farzana died outside the Lahore High Court where her new husband Mohammad Iqbal was being questioned after being accused by her family of kidnapping her and forcing her to marry.

But when she turned up to the court to defend him the mob turned on her.

Ms Cooper said: “This is a brutal and abhorrent crime and should not be allowed to happen or go unpunished.

“For a woman to be savagely killed by her own family in this way - just because she didn’t behave in the way women are supposed to - is truly horrifying.”

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi said she was “appalled” by the incident adding: “It is vital that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Meanwhile the Most Rev Justin Welby said: “I was utterly horrified and every Pakistani I have spoken to is utterly horrified.”

Mr Iqbal said the couple had survived a previous attack during the first hearing of the case earlier this month.

He went on: “The most painful thing is that nobody came forward to save my wife.

“The police were there and hundreds of lawyers were there along with ordinary men, but they all just watched like spectators.”

Farzana’s father, Mohammad Azeem, has been charged with murder and others involved in the attack are being sought by the authorities.

He was reported to have said today: “I killed my daughter as she had insulted all of our family by marrying a man without our consent, and I have no regret over it.”

According to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan some 869 women died in so-called ‘honour killings’ last year, but Amnesty International said perpetrators are rarely brought to justice.

Spokesman Mustafa Qadri said: “It is absurd that Pakistan’s criminal justice system enables the family of a murder victim to forgive those responsible, under laws known as Qisas and Diyat.

“In the case of so-called ‘honour’ killings, where the perpetrators are the victim’s own family, this enables them to forgive themselves, which means they can literally get away with murder.”